A BRITISH special forces team attempting the âseven summitsâ challenge â conquering the highest mountain on every continent â has rescued an Italian climber who was stranded and facing death at nearly 24,000ft in the Himalayas.

The five-man team of climbers from the SAS, the SBS and the TA unit 23 SAS, were climbing in the Himalayas, preparing for their ascent of Everest, when they came across Roberto Marabotto, an experienced climber and an instructor with the Italian Alpine Club...

...The team is undertaking the climbing challenge between tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, a source said.